Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. THIGPEN.

GAR COUPLING. No. 277,379. Patented May 8 1883'.

' l WM N. FETER& Fmwuxm n hw, Washington a c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JOB THIGPEN, OF GREENVILLE, ALABAMA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 277,379, dated May 8, 1883.

Application filed March 22, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOB THIGPEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Butler and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in (Jar Couplings and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the'invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon. which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in car-couplings of the automaticallycoupling class, having for its object to effect the coupling operation without requiring the attendant to pass between the cars, and the readyuncoupling of the latter; and it consists of the combination and detailed construction of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view, artly in section, with parts broken away, of my coupling as applied for use and in duplicate. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my coupling, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the draw-bar or bumper with the side of same broken away.

In the organization of my invention I employ an open ended or bifurcated buffer or draw bar, A, preferably provided with two chambers or slots, a centrally-disposed partition, a, separating them. In the rear or inner end of one of the chambers or slots of drawbar A is an upwardly-curved projection, 11, extending a short distance above the upper surface of the draw-bar, the function of which will appear presently. The arrangement of the projections or cams I) of the draw-bars of opposite cars is such that one is out of line with the other, as seen in Fig. 2, the function of which will also be seen hereinafter.

B is the coupling-hook, and (J is its operating device or lever, also'made in the form of a hook, both of which are pivoted upon the same or a common pin or fulcrum, c. The device or lever (J rests against the cam or projection b, and has a straight portion, 0, projecting for"- ward of the draw-bar A to enable it to be operated or moved by the draw-bar of the approaching car. The straight part 0 of the operating device or lever (J has an elongated slot, d, at its pivotal point, and the curved or hooked part is adapted to; bear against the back of'the coupling-hook, as seen in Fig. 3. n

It will be seen that when the cars come together the draw-bar of one will strike and move the lever C, so as to cause it to ride up the cam or projection b, and thereby be carried forward against the coupling-hook, which will cause the latter to be carried over toward and hook over the cross-pin or fulcrum of the coupling-hook and lever of the approaching oar draw-bar, and thus effect the coupling of the cars automatically and without requiring the. attendant to pass between the cars.

A cord or other suitable medium, D, fastened to the hook B from the'rear side, and to a crank-shaft, e, hung upon the car, enables the ready uncoupling of the cars.

As shown in Fig. 3, the coupling-hookoperating lever may be provided with two parallel straight portions, 0 G, with the hook arranged between them.

The duplicated arrangement of the couplin hooks, levers, and chambers or slots in the draw-bars provides an additional coupling, which can be brought into requisition in the event of the breaking of the one in use.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the coupling-hook, of the hooked lever, both of which are pivoted upon a common fulcrum, the said lever having an elongated slot in its forwardly-projectin g portion, and adapted to hear at its hooked end against the back of the hook, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the open-ended draw-bar, having in one of its chambers or slots the upwardly-curved projection or cam, of the coupling-hook and hooked lever bearing against the coupling-hook, and

the draw-bars A of different cars, said drawan elongated slot, substantially as and for the bars having open ends or slots, across which are arranged pins or bars, of the coupling-hook purpose set forth. 10

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in and the hooked lever, both being fuleruined presence of two witnesses. upon one of said pins, while thelever rests against a cam projection of a draw-bar, bears against the back of the coupling-hook, and is provided at its forwardly-projecting end with JOB THIGPEN. Witnesses:

' E. CBENSHAW,

T. J. JUDGE. 

